A NUMBER of applicants, who had applied for plots under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) scheme launched by the Punjab government to provide houses at affordable rates, staged a protest outside the GMADA building here on Monday. Congress MLA Balbir Singh Sidhu also joined the protest which delayed proceedings for about four hours.

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The Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) was holding a draw of lots for 4,000 plots in the EWS category on Monday. Though the draw was to begin around 2 pm, several applicants alleged that they were cheated by GMADA by favouring some people and started protesting outside the GMADA building.

The applicants alleged that GMADA did not mention any reason for rejecting their applications. Hundreds of applicants also gathered near the notice board where the lists of successful candidates were pasted by GMADA. Sidhu alleged that GMADA officials were favouring some candidates to gain mileage in the elections. He also handed over the objections to the GMADA official.

GMADA spokesperson said there were no anomalies in the process. The draw was still on till the filing of this report. It continued till 10.30 pm and the GMADA officials said that the whole draw was transparent and there was no favouritism in the process.

New GMADA CA Varun Roozam is yet to take charge. But officials said that GMADA would soon launch the new scheme for the EWS category so that the applicants should not feel that they did not get the plots. “We will soon launch a new scheme so there is nothong to panic as we will listen to all the grievances,” said a GMADA official.

GMADA had launched the scheme around three months ago and nearly 12,000 people had applied for the 4,000 plots in contention.

The draw turned out to be a high-voltage drama as Congress and AAP tried to extract mileage. Congress MLA Sidhu joined the protests and AAP leader Satnam Singh Daun criticised the whole process, alleging favouritism in the process. Daun alleged that genuine candidates had been ignored by the GMADA.